Pedroza 1

Alba Pedroza

Mrs. Figueroa

Senior English 1

15 December 2018

Chaucer’s Definition

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thus, meaning beauty cannot be judged objectively,

for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another. Chaucer was one of

the first authors to English. In The Wife of Bath’s Tale a knight had mistreated a women and

punishment was death. However the women of the court gave him a chance. They sent him on a

mission to find what women most desire and tell the queen. And while he was on his mission, he

came across an old woman that later in the story opened his eyes to a deeper meaning. Love is

not about looks or money. Love is found within the person’s heart, how they show affection

towards an individual.

How does Chaucer define love? He fall in love with someone he’d never see himself

with. The Chaucer comes across an old crone and has agreed to do whatever she wishes but he

doesn’t want to marry her because she is old and poor and ugly. In the book Chaucer states “I

know only too well that such was my promise; but for God’s sake make another choice. Take all

my wealth if you will, let me go free” (Knight line 75-76). He made the knight realize that

looking and money does not make one happy. The old crone is helpless and poor, but she was

willing to save the knight because she loves and cares for him. “I am old and homely and poor,

but for all the gold that is buried in the earth I would not give up being your wife and your love”

(Knight line 77-78). By the old lady expressing how she feels towards the Knight and ends up
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opening his eyes to a deeper meaning of love. Although the women is old she still loves the

Knight not for his money or looks but for his bravery.

Love is not found through money and looks but is found through beauty within the heart.

Never judge a book by its cover. There is always a deeper and beautiful meaning with everything

you just need to get to know the individual. Chaucer believed that love was found through trust

and honesty. Love is built over time, you grow with one another. Look past ones flaws and see

that true beauty in their soul. By being honest you gain someone’s trust and build a bonds that is

so strong it is impossible to break.

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Work Cited

Chaucer, Geoffrey. “The Canterbury Tales.” 1392.